The trade union Verdi has called on workers in Germany’s Amazon distribution centres to stage a walk out on Tuesday, in the fight for a collective agreement on pay and conditions.
“It is about dignity and respect.
“Only collective agreements provide workers with binding protection against corporate arbitrariness, and they are a sign of recognition for the hard work that workers do every day,’’ the union argued.
Verdi’s main demand is for Amazon, the American multinational tech company, to recognise the industry-wide collective agreement for the retail and mail order sector.
In anticipation of the strike, the U.S. retail giant announced that it did not expect any inconvenience for its customers.
Amazon also stressed that the entry-level wage in logistics, including bonuses, is set to increase to 14 euros (15.43 dollars) per hour from September onwards.
It was also set to implement more benefits.
Verdi however, said Amazon employees still earn several hundred euros less than those at companies bound by collective agreements.
Workers in nine distribution centres around Germany, including in the cities of Leipzig, Dortmund and Koblenz, have been called on to take part in the strike.
Some strike actions had already started on Sunday.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday and Wednesday, there were sales on Amazon. (dpa/NAN)
